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BASRAH — Col. Butch Kievenaar, commander of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, met with key Basrah province shaykhs at the Basrah Operations Center here, June 16. The purpose of the meeting was to introduce the brigade commander to the shaykhs, as well as discuss partnership as it’s related to the U.S.-Iraqi Security Agreement, said Maj. Richard Fierro, fire support officer for the brigade. The commander spoke with the shaykhs and explained to them what contributions the U.S. forces were bringing to the province. "Since we moved into the province, I wanted you to hear from me what...

BASRAH — British forces handed over a former Coalition headquarters to Iraqi officials during a ceremony at the Basrah International Airport Hotel here, June 15. The handover of the hotel is part of the ongoing withdrawal of British forces from Iraq in accordance with the United Kingdom's security agreement with the Iraqi government. "Military and civilian personnel, both Iraqi and Coalition, have worked within the hotel to achieve the conditions that have allowed us to celebrate many days just like this – the return of functions and facilities to the Basrawis," said Group Captain Richard Hill, deputy commander of British...

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq, June 5, 2009 – Army Spc. Cleon Shack stood in the shadows near the stage, waiting on his second chance. Army Spc. Cleon Shack performs in Round 2 of “Basra Idol,” a music contest at Contingency Operating Base Basra, Iraq, May 23, 2009. Shack was one of three finalists to make it to the final round. U.S. Army photo by Pfc. J.P. Lawrence  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. A week before, Shack and eight others had entered “Basra Idol,” a music competition for servicemembers here. Shack had sung “Midnight Lover,” a song he...

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq, June 3, 2009 – Soldiers of the 4th Infantry Division’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team visited and surveyed the progress of the children’s hospital in Basra, Iraq, May 28. Army Maj. (Dr.) Roger Brockbank looks over the grounds May 28, 2009, as soldiers make their way to the entrance of the children’s hospital under construction in Basra, Iraq. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Rodney Foliente  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. The 94-bed facility will be the first state-of-the-art pediatric specialty hospital in Iraq and is nearing completion, with outpatient services slated to start in...

BASRAH — The 94-bed, 16,000-square-meter Basrah Children's Hospital, which will be the first state-of-the-art pediatric specialty hospital in Iraq, is nearing completion with outpatient services slated to begin in September. Inpatient oncology services are slated to begin in November, surgical services in January, and additional services, such as radiation oncology, will become available at later stages. "Having a specialized pediatric hospital will be beneficial for the children of Basrah and the future generations to come," said Maj. Roger Brockbank, 2nd Brigade Combat Team surgeon, 4th Infantry Division. "We participated in what I would consider a joint, multi-agency project, to provide...

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq, May 22, 2009 – Soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division’s 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, met with the commanders of the tactical support unit companies in Basra, Iraq, to discuss training May 12. Capt. Mustafa, right, commander of an Iraqi tactical support unit, identifies the unit’s operational area to U.S. Army 1st Lt. Ray Critchfield, May 12, 2009. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Brandon LeFlore  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. The battalion is planning a training event for the security forces in the area and is assessing each unit’s...

"A soldier who lost the use of both of his legs in Iraq is today celebrating reaching the half way stage of the London Marathon, despite the race finishing last week. Major Phil Packer, 36, suffered catastrophic injures during a rocket attack in Basra, but is determined to complete the arduous marathon on crutches, and is notching up two miles per day."

Major Dickie Head looks bemused as we emerge from the safety of an armoured Iraqi Army Humvee and walk towards what was one of the most dangerous parts of Basra - now a small, but busy, market. This is the first time he has returned to this area since a tour of duty which saw him and his men engulfed in a vicious and lengthy battle near the city centre. His unit was trying to recover the bodies of the five British service-personnel killed when a Lynx helicopter was brought down by insurgents on 6 May 2006.

A ceremony has been held in Basra to mark the official end of the six-year British military presence in Iraq. UK combat operations finished when 20 Armoured Brigade handed over to a US brigade at a "flagdown ceremony". In London, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said a new chapter in relations between the two countries had begun. Earlier, a memorial service attended by Defence Secretary John Hutton took place in Basra for the 179 UK personnel who have died during the conflict. The focus was a memorial wall featuring the names of the 234 UK and foreign troops who lost their...

BASRA, Iraq, April 26 (Reuters) - Hundreds of Iraqis protested against U.S. forces on Sunday after U.S. soldiers killed a man and a woman in an overnight raid that was condemned by the provincial governor. The U.S. military said it targeted "special groups" fighters, or elite Shi'ite militiamen the United States says are funded and armed by Iran, in a raid on their house early Sunday in the city of Kut, 150 km (95 miles) southeast of Baghdad. In a statement, the military said U.S. troops had shot and killed a man suspected of being behind supplying weapons to the...

WASHINGTON, April 1, 2009 – Last spring’s Iraqi-planned and Iraqi-led military campaign that successfully subdued insurgents in and around Iraq’s southern city of Basra was a turning point in the conflict, a senior U.S. officer posted in Iraq said today. When Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki decided in March 2008 to attack insurgents and criminals lodged in Basra, Multinational Corps Iraq “had its first opportunity to gain the initiative in the south,” Army Lt. Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III told reporters at a Baghdad news conference. “We didn’t hesitate in partnering with the Iraqi security forces,” Austin, commander of Multinational...

WASHINGTON, March 23, 2009 – The Iraqi security forces are performing high-level and fast-paced operations in Basra, making progress in other areas possible, the commander of Multinational Division – Southeast said today. British army Maj. Gen. Andy Salmon said the “atmospherics” in Basra are positive and that the citizens have high expectations for the future. “People are content with the security here, very confident in the way the Iraqi security forces are delivering that, but they're also focused on jobs, health and education for the future,” Salmon said during a video teleconference with Pentagon reporters today. The Iraqi army and...

..."Urgent news media has just been published in many media, including the channel of East .. Confirm the occupation of territory, including a new island (or lead) by Iran, Iraq, as reported breaking news that the Iranian Foreign Ministry today demanded the inclusion of the port of Iraqi civilian side ..!.."

Sunday, February 8, 2009 11:08 PM ESTHe's back from Iraq -- again I'm back. And understandably, everyone has questions. Most often asked is, "How was it?" Long, hot, hard and sometimes dangerous. Once again, I am greeted by countless people who tell me that they have read my articles and got a real feel for what is happening in Iraq. One older gentleman said that he was reminded of Ernie Pyle writing during World War II. I'm humbled by the comparison. I hope, as Pyle did, to have been able to bring the experiences of our soldiers home to you....

BASRAH — Three days after graduating a multi-week training course, the first Iraqi Special Weapons and Tactics Tactical Response Team joined Coalition forces in a joint operation here. The river-focused force filled vital overwatch positions, and maintained active security and communications with Iraqi Police and Army units as well as with Coalition units. “This demonstrates the capability of this force, and how their training prepared them for real-world missions,” said a Coalition advisor to the TRT. The TRT is a new capability for Iraq allowing the Police to have a specially trained cadre skilled in the art of maritime and...

Multi-National Division South East BASRA – Iraqi authorities took control of the Basrah International Airport from Coalition supervision today in a ceremony in the southern city of Basra. This transfer of authority comes after four years of operation since it closed after the start of the war in 2003. On hand for the event was Basrah Governor Mohamad El Wa'ili, Basrah International Airport Director Abdul Ameer, Director General of the Iraqi Civil Aviation Administration Sebeeh Al Shebany and Multi-National Division-South East Commander British Maj. Gen. Andy Salmon, as well as other officials, members of Iraqi Security forces and Iraqi media....

BASRA — Iraqi Security Forces recently uncovered hundreds of historical artifacts during two raids in northern Basra. The 228 ancient artifacts included Sumerian and Babylonian sculpture, gold jewelry and other items from ancient Mesopotamia.“This is my favorite item,” said Iraqi Col. Ali Sabah, commander of the Basra Emergency Battalion that led the operation, holding a piece of gold jewelry. “It’s gold from the Babylon ages and about 6,000 years old. It doesn’t have a price.”“I’m very happy because this is my civilization’s heritage,” he said.The Basra Emergency Battalion led raid operated from tips that smugglers intended to remove the...

Basrah, Iraq — Hundreds of Iraqis in al-Tanoma city in east Basra will soon have access to a modern sports club where they can host and watch sporting events. The project by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is designed to provide a safe haven for youth to play, practice and develop their skills. “The rehabilitation work for the four decades old facility is an important step to meeting the needs of Basra’s next generation of athletes,” said Lateef Khlaf, the sports club administrator. “As you know, the Iraqi people love sports like soccer and basketball. They will be very...

Authorities in the southern Iraqi city of Basra have admitted they are powerless to prevent 'honour killings' in the city following a 70 per cent increase in religious murders during the past year. There has been no improvement in conviction rates for these killings. So far this year, 81 women in the city have been murdered for allegedly bringing shame on their families. Only five people have been convicted. During 2007 the Basra security committee recorded 47 'honour killings' and three convictions. One lawyer in the city described how police were actively protecting perpetrators and said that a woman in...

BASRAH — Two million Basrah residents will soon have a more-dependable source of household water for cleaning, cooking, bathing, and washing. A $5 million project, scheduled to complete next summer, will connect permanent power to the Sweetwater Canal Pump Station #2. About 70 Iraqis are on the crew installing a new switch gear room, two 5 megavolt amp transformers and two new 1.5 megavolt back-up generators. “The project is directly impacting Basrah’s economy,” said Iraqi engineer Sattar, who works for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. “Local Iraqis are on the construction crew earning steady paychecks and most of the...